“We’re marching in the park, but we should be marching in the streets but we’re fenced in like animals, while the other animals are outside. We are here to support our brothers and sisters of Latvia with the atrocities they have to go through in a homophobic society.” Audio interview.

There are three audio recordings. The first is a collection of peoples thoughts and descriptions of the experience of the day, the second and third are an interview with Anna, a spokesperson from Mozaika, who kindly shared some time to tell some more of the story of Human Rights in Latvia.

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thanks for that report and the photos - usual emotions of sadness at protesters and respect at the smiling faces who are there to fight for the right to have their love respected.

This kind of pride is a far cry from the dublin pride - but do you know what - 10 years ago dublin pride was about 20 people doing a small little march and so its a great complaint that the dublin pride has now become a corporate sponsored event.

I've marched in alot of prides in the uk, here and america - ive managed the dyke march twice in new york and came across a good few anti gay protesters simply standing there watching us march by looking at us with their thumbs pointing down - and the banners are awful- its just that the hate is there and present in front of you.

its a crap feeling - especially if youre a big softie like me who cant understand why all people dont love and respect each other...(i still cant bring myself to watch the 2nd Revolt dvd cos i know i'll be crying for days)

anyway - heres hoping queers in Latvia, Poland and many many other countries will have the strength to keep fighting for their right to be in love in peace.

Thanks a lot for your great story, pictures and audios. It was great pleasure to meet and talk to you in Riga during the Friendship Days and Equality March.

I would also want to thank once again all the Latvian people, straight and LGBT, who came out on that day and supported democracy, humanity and respect in Latvia. Our huge thanks also go to all foreign guests who came over to Riga that weekend to support us in Latvia. It is important to say that they were not just supporting democracy in Latvia, but in entire Europe. Countries like Latvia, Poland and Romania are now members of the European Union and their governments are participating in making decisions which concern all people across European Union therefore ALL EU citizens should be concerned with developments in those countries. I also hope that the foreign support will also continue next and coming years as this is not yet a victory in Latvia, its just a beginning.

Once again, thanks Paula and all who were out with us on that day and also many more who were with us in their minds and thoughts but could not join us, this is a beginning and indeed – We Shall Overcome!

Juris Lavrikovs
Working for ILGA-Europe and a founding member of Mozaika

Well done for making this happen. The rest of Europe and the rest of the world are watching and many of us are cheering for you.
I've visited Riga as a tourist and would love to be there for Pride sometime.
Grant

Thank you for this account of the events in Riga, and for sharing these great photos with us. Thanks also for linking up to our blog :o)

Hope to see you next year in Riga!

Anders

PS. Congratulations again to Mozaika for managing to make the Latvian LGBT fight for rights and respect so internationally known and supported. Your fight has touched the minds and hearts of LGBT activists and human rights advocates all over the world.

from one point of view, it's kinda sad, that instead marching in the streets, people had to march in a park behind the fences, but from other i'm really glad it happened at all. gay pride march in lithuania was banned by city council at all. and you should have seen that massive homophobic campaign that boneheads were doing there when council was considering the decision...
well done riga!